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Thursday, April 5, 2012

From New York Times bestselling author Eileen Goudge comes a poignant new novel that asks the question, “What would you do if you were told you had only six months to live?” For one professional matchmaker the answer is heart-wrenching: She must find her husband’s next wife.

Camille Hart, one of Manhattan’s most sought-after matchmakers, has survived more than her fair share of hardships. Her mother died when she was a young girl, leaving her and her sister with an absentee father. Now in her forties, she has already survived cancer once, though the battle revealed just how ill-equipped her husband Edward is to be a single parent. So when doctors tell Camille that her cancer is back—and this time it’s terminal—she decides to put her matchmaking expertise to the test for one final job. Seeking stability for her children and happiness for her husband, Camille sets out to find the perfect woman to replace her when she’s gone.

But what happens when a dying wish becomes a case of “be careful what you wish for”? For Edward and Camille, the stunning conclusion arrives with one last twist of fate that no one saw coming.

At once deeply felt and witty, The Replacement Wife is an unforgettable story of love and family, and a refreshing look at the unexpected paths that lead us to our own happy endings.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Eileen Goudge is one of the nation’s most successful authors of women’s fiction, beginning with the acclaimed six-million-copy bestseller Garden of Lies.

Goudge is one of six children, and the joys and strife that come with a large family have informed her fiction, much of which centers on issues of sisterhood and family. At eighteen she quit college to get married, a whirlwind experience that two years later left her divorced, broke, and responsible for her first child. It was then that she started writing in earnest.

On a typewriter borrowed from a neighbor, Goudge began turning out short stories and articles. For years she had limited success—selling work to McCall’s, Reader’s Digest, and the San Francisco Chronicle—but in the early eighties she took a job writing for a new young adult series that would become the phenomenally successful Sweet Valley High.

Goudge moved her family from California to New York City, where she spent several years writing young-adult fiction, creating series such as Seniors, Swept Away, and Who Killed Peggy Sue? In 1986 she published her first novel of adult fiction, Garden of Lies, inspired by a childhood anxiety that, because she did not resemble her brothers and sisters, she had been secretly adopted—a suspicion so strong that, at twelve, Goudge broke into her father’s lockbox expecting to find adoption papers. (She did not.) The tale of children swapped at birth was a national sensation, spent sixteen weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, and eventually yielded a sequel, Thorns of Truth (1998), which Goudge wrote in response to a decade of fan mail demanding she resolve the story.

Since then, Goudge has continued writing women’s fiction, producing a total of thirteen novels to date. Her most popular works include the three-book saga of Carson Springs—Stranger in Paradise (2001), Taste of Honey (2002), and Wish Come True (2003)—a small, secret-ridden town that Goudge based on scenic Ojai, California. She has also published a cookbook, Something Warm from the Oven, which contains recipes that Goudge developed as a reprieve from the stresses of writing novels.

Goudge met her current husband while conducting an interview over the telephone. Entertainment reporter Sandy Kenyon was so taken with the author that he asked if he could call her back when the interview was done, and after weeks of late-night conversations they met in person and were married in 1996. Goudge lives with Kenyon in New York City.

To read more about Eileen's life, check out her bio on her website HERE.

MY THOUGHTS/REVIEW:Just when you have read the last page of what you think is the best book ever, along comes Eileen Goudge with a new book and suddenly you are exchanging that “best book ever” with THE REPLACEMENT WIFE. Eileen has once again given readers a novel that is a love story that grabs you from the opening and drives you to hold on to the roller coaster of ups and downs, twists and turns, while testing your emotional strength. THE REPLACEMENT WIFE is a love story not just about two people but about the main character’s entire world; her husband, children, friends, and career.

First and foremost, this love story is about a husband and wife, and how although their relationship definitely changes over time, it never loses its effect on the lives of the people it touches, nor the reader. Camille Hart appears to have it all; a perfect family with two wonderful children and an amazing husband, Edward. She enjoys her work as a matchmaker because she sincerely wants to help other people find true love as well as ideal companionship. Could there really be something in this idyllic life that would pose a problem?

Sadly, there is a very big “something” which is that Camille has cancer which had been in remission. The fight was a brave one and her second chance had given her back this perfect life. That is, up until the villainous illness returns and appears that no remission is in sight this time and she must make plans to deal with the inevitable. Camille is a fighter and if she isn’t going to beat it this time, she is sure she is going to leave her beloved husband and children in the best of hands. Faced with probably only six months left to live, Camille decided to do her best job ever with her matchmaking and find her husband a replacement wife. This would give Camille peace of mind knowing that her family would be in good hands after she was gone. Edward, a doctor, is not agreeable to this but in order to make Camille happy, he goes along with it, as he hangs on to the slim chance she might beat the cancer a second time.

What happens as Camille puts her plan in motion is not what one might think. I was surprised by what happened and especially by the ending. With Goudge’s propensity for creating realistic as well as compelling characters, the narrative burst forth from the pages to capture the reader’s heart and this beautiful story begs the reader to consider what they might do if put in the same situation. Camille and Edward’s story is unique in many ways, but with great attention to detail, Goudge is able to touch on issues that do come up in most people’s lives such as making choices for one’s family, illness, and the effects one’s decisions can have on their marriage and family. Being deeply invested in the plot line, and expecting a much different ending, I have to say I was sorry for this story to end. I enjoyed it so much and as always with Eileen Goudge, one of the first writers to take a personal interest in me when I started out, I now have to wait again for her next work of art! Thank you once again, Eileen. Do not miss this one my friends!

GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO ALLISON AND THE GOOD FOLKS AT NETGALLEY, I HAVE ONE COPYOF EILEEN GOUDGE'S NEW BOOK, THE REPLACEMENT WIFE, TO GIVE AWAY

--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TOCOUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON WHAT YOU READ ABOVE THAT MADE YOU WANT TO WIN THE REPLACEMENT WIFE AND DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS

+1 MORE ENTRY:GO TO EILEEN GOUDGE'S WEBSITE HERE AND COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FOUND INTERESTING THERE

+1 MORE ENTRY:COMMENT ON ONE WAY THAT YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG. IF YOU FOLLOW MORE THAN ONE WAY, YOU MAY COMMENT SEPARATELY TO RECEIVE EXTRA ENTRIES

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I would like to read The Replacement Wife by Elizabeth Gouge because I can't imagine having the will power or sacrificial heart to look for another wife for my husband. Already, this woman character is amazing in my mind.

I want to read this book, not only because she is a fave author but because of this line in your review:Just when you have read the last page of what you think is the best book ever, along comes Eileen Goudge with a new book CMashMash1195 at aol dot com

Your comment in your review about thinking you've just read the best book ever and then along comes Eileen Goudge with The Replacement Wife grabbedmy attention - that's high praise and deserves some attention!

The premise of this book caught my attention as well. Camille's plan to find a new wife for her husband and mother for her children before she dies from cancer is thought-provoking and intriguing. I have so many questions not the least of which is how difficult is this for Camille who has a loving relationship with her husband and children?

So these are just 2 of the reasons why I'd like to read this book.Thank you!!Aimala127(at)gmail(dot)com

I love the recipe section on Eileen Goudge's website. I became even more interested when I clinked on the recipe for Kitty’s Chocolate-Molasses Crinkles and read that this recipe, featured in one of Eileen's earlier novels, is from Kitty, a character in the book, who offers the crinkles at her tearoom, Tea & Sympathy. I was intrigued because there is a Tea & Sympathy in downtown NYC. I'm hoping they actually sell Chocolate-Molasses Crinkles! I'm excited to now know that some of Eileen's books include recipes! Love that little perk in novels!

I would love to read this book. It sounds very good. I love romance novels. I want to see what happens. That is a big sacrifice for her to make before she dies. She is only concerned with her family being taken care of and being happy. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com